Engagement is a team effort!

Since I'm thinking about puppies, and things we need to remember it reminded me of something I learned at the last seminar with Debbie Zappia. 

If you do this from the start, you won't have those worries of leaving anything in your training area for fear the dog will be "distracted" and snarf your food or steal toys.  The puppy learns that food on a table is not "free."  From the start the lesson is that reward is accessed through you, the handler.

Keep your food on a chair or table in the area you are training.  Don't fill your pockets and carry more food on your body than you need for that little piece.  Running back to the table gives you a chance to re-load and energizes the dog, giving them a little mental break, as well.  The message is: don't touch the food. give me behaviors, and I will give you the food.

Naturally, when you begin, any dog is going to want to help itself. I think it is easiest with a dog just learning the concept, or a smaller, younger dog, to use a chair or low table. You cover the food with your hand and when the dog backs away (the doggie zen concept of having to give up in order to receive!) you verbally reinforce with your marker and give the dog a piece of food. You don't smack the dog or make punishment; it is your job to cover the food and reward the dog for appropriately moving away. Then take the dog away from the food with you, by leash guidance and go back to work.

When you need to reload your food, hold the dog by the collar and ask it “are you ready?.. let’s GO!” and run to the table where the dog can put their feet up. Keep the leash short enough as you approach the table to encourage the dog up.  When I took off and raced Marco to the table, and he was still eating some food, dawdling, Debbie complained “Everyone is leaving their dog!! Take the dog with you!!”

This is a different approach than what a popular trainer is teaching, where you take off and run away from the dog... apparently to engage him to chase you.  And this is what I did, thinking it was good.  What I recognized afterwards was doing that was very similar to bribing the dog with a toy, instead of rewarding behavior with a toy.  I took off and the dog weighed whether the dropped food, the crowd, or a host of other things were more exciting than me running away.  And who was doing all the work? me!!  Far better to make this a team effort and not allow your dog to check out on you. Your escape should not become a cue for the dog to pay attention. 

Remember that when you do take your dog to re-load you don't just stand there and fill your pockets; it remains a team effort.  Keep the dog in the picture by rewarding it for attention there, as well.  With the dog watching, you verbally encourage with your "good" or "nice" and give a piece of food for attention without mugging.

A much better method of engaging your dog by remaining a team.

The Yard is a Big Place!

I love to explore my new yard!  Some things need to be jumped on, or tasted....

there are so many fun things to climb on!  I take my job very seriously but my people seem amused when I help them with chores....

The raised flower bed in the front yard is pretty cool.  It's like a jungle there and I can sneak up on Roya by hiding behind the wooden sides.

oops! sorry about that!

One of the most fun things is to chase my people when they walk and bite their legs.  At first they thought it was funny.  But I am very persistent and I try to take a bigger bite.  I guess that pinches and hurts and they stopped laughing.

OOPS! SORRY!



(do I look suitably apologetic???) nawwwww

Foxtal's Vortex Viper, aka: ViVi (name pending)

Meet ViVi.

She is a female Belgian Malinois puppy, 6 weeks old

Her full name (pending) is Foxtal's Viper Vortex, named after sniper scope.

I expect she will be deadly accurate, a force to reckon with.

Her momma is Lazer du Loups du Soleil, IPO3.

Her daddy is Mangouste du Loups du Soleil, MR3, FR3, 4x World Team Competitor.

Besides being from the famous Loups du Soleil lines, Lazer's dam is Fauxtois... the same mother as my Jinx.

The litter does not carry the Loups du Soleil name because only those litters bred by MichaelEllis or his partners can use that name, so I will be using my own kennel name.  How lucky is that?  I will have an awesome dog, from incredible lines... with MY kennel name!!

ViVi is so smart she will be going to law school with my friend, Sam.

He has big plans for her training. Although ViVi is quiet and sleeping at the moment, I have already wished revenge on Sam for having avoided this crate-training, I-miss-my-mommy period of ear piercing decibel levels.

The last puppy I got at 6 weeks of age was my Sofie, and she turned out pretty darned great!  Ordinarily I would not do this, and keep my own puppies to 10 weeks of age, but I know that I have stable adults who can teach ViVi how to speak "dog" and that I can provide the environmental stimulation that she needs.  The concern with taking young puppies is that they will not learn how to properly behave with other dogs and become dog aggressive.  Enter Roya, my old Dutch Shepherd bitch.  Roya has raised two litters herself and is such a great mother that she even nursed a singleton puppy our neighbor brought over.

Roya has helped ViVi transition to her new home.  She takes ViVi outside to potty and gently, but firmly teaches her that puppies do not take food from grown ups.  I have been feeding her raw and at first she didn't know who to bite off pieces of the patty.  Once I mushed it up in my fingers, she dug in. That little body actually eats quite abit!

So, another puppy adventure begins..........too quickly they become young adults.  For now, however, I will savor the puppy breath and frito feets.

When I competed recently in the AWDF Championships, I had not been able to practice grass tracks.  I thought the dogs from southern climes would have a distinct advantage considering my practice had been on SNOW!  When we actually earned the high IPO2 tracking score and ended up winning the IPO2 Championship, I had to pause and evaluate what I had done to aid this success.

One of the complaints by competitors at all levels was that the legs of the tracks were too close together.  In every Championship I have competed in, the tracks have been much shorter than regulation due to the large number of tracks that have to be fit into a small place.  I have found this to be much more challenging than if the tracks were longer because speed changes are obvious and the dog has no chance to settle into a long pace.

At the AWDF, the tracks I observed were on pasture grass with rolling hills in a medium breeze.  If the dog did not keep its nose down and instead raised it up to air scent, it was drawn to other legs or other tracks.  The dogs that had good tracking ethic, did not have a problem.  Pre did not lose his focus in this way.  What made the difference?  While I cannot say for certain, there are several things that I do in training that I believe contributed to our success.

One thing is that I teach and reinforce footstep tracking, and in training place on foot in front of the other.  In this way, the dog has the width of my foot to be correct... or not.  If you walk a normal, side-to-side gait, and allow the dog to cast like that, the dog is rewarded for trailing in the area between your footprints and it now has an area of several feet that it believes is correct.  Add a breeze to that and the dog who does not understand how to work to the source of the odor--- the footstep itself--- and you have a mine-sweeper at the end of the line.

Almost immediately, if I have other people working with me, I instruct them to walk on either side of me while I lay my tracks (or they lay mine).  If there is only one additional, they walk on the side upwind from the track, so that their track and scent is blowing directly to the dog.  Ideally, the longest legs run cross-wise to the wind direction.  The dog learns that the only reward is at the source of the odor that it is started on, and no other.  Just as soon as a dog or puppy understands the tracking behavior, I introduce this.  The people walking alongside, stay at approximately 5 feet off either side and also crossing the track at intervals.  Since you are all walking together, the track layer can place bait/reward after these crossings.  You do not lead the dog through challenges with food, you reward them for meeting the challenge.

I do the same thing with the police dogs I train.  In fact, their work is much more critical than a sport dog.  Their scenes are often very contaminated with scent by the time they arrive and so the dogs must work the scent they are told to follow, to the exclusion of all others.  Here are several photos from a tracking exercise we did last week.  This was after the dogs had completed tracks of over 1 mile in length, through varied terrain with multiple articles.  Those tracks begin with a scent article that tells the dog which scent they are following.  Any time I work a track that allows the dog more latitude in searching out the track, the next track we do is back to precision.  In this track, three handlers laid long, straight tracks approximately 15 feet apart, each ending at an article.  While one team ran their track, the others sat with their dogs (quiet and down) on the hillside, observing.  As you can see, neither the near proximity of the tracks nor the other dogs caused a distraction from the task.

 The dogs also learn that they are not beaten up, punished or corrected physically.... nor does the handler do the work for them by cueing them with the line.  When they have problems at a corner, the handler instead acts like the dog missed a great party and encourages them.  This is something I picked up from listening to Debbie Zappia, and I find the dogs don't become stressed and worried, or even worse--- lie to the handler to avoid punishment. 

Tracking can be great fun when the team creates and meets challenges together.  It is even more fun when you can walk next to a friend and chat while you lay your tracks, and doing so is to the advantage of your training! Many positive discoveries in training come from a handler or trainer trying to make things more efficient or easily understood.  In my case, I found I could have new handlers walk alongside me as I described what I was doing in laying the track and it made things more clear to them.  Then I found that it actually helped the dogs to understand their task, as well. Viola! A program is born!

Pre wins the AWDF IPO2 Championship!

Last weekend, Pre and I competed at the American Working Dog Championship in Kentucky.  I am very fortunate to be able to train and compete with this wonderful dog for the year.  I will write more detail later, but despite issues related to lack of coordination in the event, having to travel the day before the Championship, and trialing in 93 degree heat, Pre prevailed to earn a new IPO2 title under the sharp pencil of Championship judges.  I purchased a CD of photographs and have to select from an incredible array, and various friends also took photos and video that I hope to get copies of.
I attended a seminar with Debbie Zappia recently and she worked on some technical points to maximize our performance, and they really helped.  I plan to work with her again in the future as Pre and I  have plans for the Working Dog Championship (Iowa/May) and earn our IPO3, North Central Regional Championship (Hazelhurst, Wi/Sept)  and the American Working Malinois Championship (Illinois/October) before he retires to his Madison family.  Sam gave Pre a wonderful foundation, and then I took him to college! A great team effort!

In the meantime, here are a couple photos from Kentucky:

Pre hanging out on the bed with me; we're watching Animal Planet

                                                          After our stadium work in 93 degree heat. Tapped out

                                                    Showing off his "sit pretty", a crowd favorite!

Perspective

Elizabeth Taylor died last week. There was an abundance of video celebrations and memorials to her life. No one I know met her. She never sat at my table, or attended a schutzhund trial. Her passing doesn't leave any holes in my heart but I still mourn the fact that an icon is gone. I know that there are people who did know her, and loved her dearly.

Last week a Wisconsin soldier, Spc. Justin Ross, from Green Bay,in addition to others serving in our armed forces, was killed in service. I didn't know him, either. I saw his family on television and cried to hear their tribute of their son. He died doing a job that protects my freedoms and I feel that loss.

A Fond du Lac police officer, Craig Birkholz, was also laid to rest last week, killed by a man who fired his displaced anger from a gun and then shot himself. Another officer and his police K9 were also wounded but are recovering. Fond du Lac is not far from here and although I did not personally know him or the wounded officer, we are all Brothers and Sisters in the badge. The community of fellow officers that I walk in, mourns that loss but are healing by helping Craig's family and reminding us to stay strong and SURVIVE.

Another man, loved by many, joined the list of those taken from us last week: Mike Scheiber. Mike was a long-time member of MVSV, one of the schutzhund clubs in our North Central Region. Mike and his dog, Jett, won the Regional SchH3 Championship last fall and I think everyone recognized and applauded Mike's dedication to the task and that the "little guy" could prevail.  He was not a professional trainer, and worked very hard for his success. He had a wry sense of humor that sometimes left you wondering if he realized he had said something so hilariously funny. Mike was attending a training seminar at his club when he passed away.

Any time you are witness to the death of someone you care about, it is difficult.  It may be somewhat selfish of me to imagine that it would be wonderful to die in pursuit of what you love.  I know it must be difficult for the survivors, but to have lived many years and leave this world, not at work or in a car accident, or even as a result of lingering illness, would be a blessing, in my book.

We all become saints after death, and honoring the memory does not mean we pretend the person we lost is now somehow now more than a human.  It does mean that EVERYONE is loved by SOMEONE.  When death touches our life, think first of the honor and the pleasure it was to know that person.  Consider smiles, laughter and shared experiences without which your life would be a paler shade. If there are lessons to be learned, hold those with gratitude. Perhaps it means seizing the moment more often; telling someone you love them; leaving a legacy for your children.

A common thread that has emerged in conversations about Mike was his generousity of spirit and being a friend to new and old members in the sport. He visited many clubs to attend seminars and was a vocal cheerleader for the success of his friends. If we take that goodness, and apply it in our own lives it will be time better spent than mourning.  In mourning we feel sorry for ourselves, for our loss. True, we not only deserve but need that time to own the emptiness of a friendship that did not live to see our old age but if we must be careful not to take up residency there. There are people who need us.  Who need us to help them in the sport, to welcome them to our fields and be the smile that greets us at seminars.

Every death reminds us that our time here is finite. Don't let the opportunity pass by to learn from loss. Ask yourself "what would Mike do?"  Step up to the grill, and be that person.

Breed Differences- Part I: A little history

This seems like a good day to begin an introduction to you of my introduction to dogs. I had started this as a prelude to the "breed differences" post.
I thought a little background might be helpful. My father was given a Springer Spaniel named Jim, by his father as a wedding gift.  Jim was an excellent hunter and so he was a meaningful gift, and the first dog of my memory.  We had a series of mutt dogs. Since dogs ran loose and were largely unvaccinated the fact that they survived long at all is a wonder.  Still, a lovely little girl named Ginger was the first dog I actually remember interacting with.  She was an unrestrained femme fatale, who had litter of puppies sired by the neighborhood roustabout, Freddie. From that litter we kept Red, Son of Fred.  Red was THE dog of my youth, a companion and partner for exploring the hundreds of acres of timber plantation surrounding our home.  He was, as his name implies, red in color.  He was a short-coated handsome dog, medium sized and he lived outside in a doghouse built under the eaves of the house. He was a clever dog, and never insulted a porcupine or a skunk.  In fact, we would feed him in a large metal dish on the back porch and in winter added meat drippings to hot water and I recall looking out the back door to see Red sharing his meal with a skunk.  To this day, I am amazed that he was not sprayed! Red was the darling of my childhood.

 In my teens, apparently influenced by television, I decided I wanted a German Shepherd Dog. No "Lassie" for me; I wanted Rin Tin Tin!  There must have been a miscommunication, because my father brought home a series of German Shorthairs.  While attending college, I was given a Shepherd-Doberman mix, a very sharply aggressive female. I had no skills in training, and all her responses were natural.  When prepared to moved to Appleton where I would live with another officer until I could find a place of my own, I read the animal ordinances and did not feel I could safely keep "Sable". I left her with another family.  She was a bright dog, saddled with a sub-novice owner. I sometimes wonder what could have been accomplished, or changed, with the dogs I have owned, if only I had known more at the time.
My next un-Shepherd, was a stray bite-case that came into the Department; a scrawny cream and black female with ears the size of satellite dishes.  I named her Radar.  Radar was a sweet dog, but shy dog. She was well behaved on basic obedience commands but did not enjoy the commotion of classes.  Then came my opportunity to add a REAL German Shepherd! Friends I had met through the dog club had a litter of puppies! A pure-bred, AKC registered, black and tan male named Baron von Linden. I called him Bear, because he looked like a fuzzy little bear cub. And yes, I realize the I lacked originality. The breeders were very supportive and helpful and because of them I took Bear to obedience classes.  Granted, training has come a long ways since then, but I found that I enjoyed training. I attended fun matches and conformation shows with the breeder and learned more about the activities available to me.  When Bear was approximately 4 months old, another friend observed him running and pronounced him "dysplastic."  I knew nothing of this, and denied it.  After all, this was a registered dog!  However, when Bear and I traveled to Minnesota to compete for our Novice title, we earned one leg before Bear came up so lame that I left the trial and returned home to take him immediately to my vet.  My friend had been correct.  My dog was so horribly dysplastic that it was amazing he could walk, and he was clearly in pain.  He was euthanized.

You would think that I would be turned off by German Shepherds with that experience. Quite the opposite was true.  Bear's breeders had invited me into a world that I had not known previously, and I liked it.  In fact, it was Dennis who took me (and Donna Matey!!) to our first schutzhund trial, at the Northern Illinois club!

My mission became to start a K9 unit for our Department.  I did some research and found that the prices for police dogs were quite expensive, far beyond what I had as disposable income at the time.  I don't remember how we had even met, but Sandee Filo offered to help me find a dog I could afford.  In fact, that was quite a generous offer since the dogs I couldn't afford were theirs! As it happened, a Milwaukee police officer who bred dogs (Bob Hanus) had some dogs for sale and Sandee took me to evaluate them. One caught my eye.  He was distinctive, to be sure; he had one ear that had been nipped off.  As a puppy, he had apparently misbehaved to the extent that his own mother bit the top of his ear off! He had a perfect half moon scoop from the top of one.  His registered name was Exx vom Heiliger Huegel. 

This dog had been returned to the breeder when he became too much for the owners.  Untrained behaviors that are cute in a puppy are not so in an adult, and relieving boredom by attempting to press past them and out the door, or sneaking along the fence in the yard and suddenly leaping up and barking at the neighbor, lost amusement value.   To me, he had that sparkle in his eyes and joy of life that called to me and I bought him. The breeder had nicknamed him "Eros" and that is what I called him.  Some time later, after his initial police dog training, I contacted the previous owners to tell them what he had accomplished and they said "he never gave us any indication of that." Those words have stuck with me.  They had surrendered him when the axle broke on the trailer he rode in (to visit their cabin "up north") and it was either fix the trailer or get rid of the dog. They got rid of the dog. Yet another thing caught my attention, however; they had called the dog Bear!  It was meant to be!   I do think we receive "signs" when things are meant to be, and this helps you to understand how I felt about Marco.

Eros opened another world to me, one of police dogs and also schutzhund.  We attended our initial police dog training at the Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officers Training Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Together we traveled to Germany where we spent three months training at the Landes Polizei schule fur Diensthundfuhrers, honing our skills. We competed in the Police Dog Championships several times, and I made life-long friendships through him. Some of the saddest days of came when Eros retired and I had to go to work without him.

I owned a number of German Shepherds after Eros, but never made the same connection with them.  They moved in and out of my life. Nice dogs, but not the right dog.   They were, however, the "right dog" for other people and went on to become the special dog for those families. 

When people come to me, having already made the choice of a less-than-suitable dog, I know how they feel.  I also know that if I turn your back to those people, I may lose a wonderful supporter of the sport or excellent handler or simply made an emotional choice.  It is unlikely that dog will be their last, so my obligation is to prepare them for better choices in the future and help them find fun in training positively.  When people have physical issues, I know the heartbreak of having to make a choice to spare a dog pain but also how a big heart can carry a dog through physical disabilities.  I can try to educate people, but I cannot fault them for learning via mistakes, as I did.  Believe me, not every is so smart or blessed to have that first dog be the perfect specimen for everything you want to do and you may need to adapt to what the dog is capable of.

In another post I will tell you how the striped dogs, Dutch Shepherds, entered my life and became a life-long love!